The department of medicine and Pakistan society of internal medicine (Islamabad chapter) celebrated the world diabetes day 2019 at Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences, Islamabad. The day was celebrated in two different sessions. The first session focused primarily on the prevention of diabetes and early screening of patients at high risk of developing diabetes. While the second session focused on Insulin in the treatment of diabetes.

The first session of World Diabetes Day at PIMS 2019:

Speakers from different hospitals blessed the occasion and shared their valuable experiences. Notably, Professor Dr. Jamal Zafar, Professor Dr. Rizwan Aziz Qazi, Professor Dr. Shajee Siddiqui, Professor Naeem, Professor S. H. Waqar, endocrinologists from federal government hospital, and Professor Aslam Shah were present at the occasion and the diabetes awareness walk and campaign. [caption id="attachment_9528" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Dr. Gohar Khan endocrinologist at FGSH Islamabad[/caption] [caption id="attachment_9529" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Dr. Sarwar endocrinologist at FGSH Islamabad[/caption] [caption id="attachment_9530" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Dr. Ayesha Isani consultant radiologist at PIMS Islamabad[/caption] [caption id="attachment_9531" align="aligncenter" width="717"] Participants holding the "World diabetes day" logo[/caption] [caption id="attachment_9532" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Walk at PIMS on Diabetic day[/caption] Speakers also talked about the impact of diabetes on the individual, the family of the diabetic patient, the burden on the state, and how it results in death. The most important message was given by Professor Naeem, head of the department of cardiology. He advised the doctors to start practicing a healthy lifestyle first yourselves and then ask your patients by quoting the following verses of the Holy Quran (Surah 61, ayah 2 & 3, Para 28):

O you who have believed, why do you say what you do not do?

Great is hatred in the sight of Allah that you say what you do not do.

The second session of World Diabetes Day 2019 at PIMS:

[caption id="attachment_9533" align="aligncenter" width="850"] Session 2 opening at PIMS - World Diabetes day 2019[/caption] The second session was headed by Professor Rauf Niazi along with Professor Tanveer Khaliq, the executive director, Dr. Mohammad Ali Arif, Dr. Fibha Syed, Dr. Liaqat, Dr. Aqeel, Dr. Adil, the nursing staff, and many doctors from the various departments. The session focused on Insulin therapy and included two very informative CME lectures by Dr. Ali Arif and Dr. Fibha Syed.

The first lecture was about Insulin types and early initiation

[caption id="attachment_9534" align="aligncenter" width="538"] Dr. Mohammad Ali Arif delivering the first lecture on Insulin[/caption] The first lecture delivered by Dr. Ali Arif was about Insulin initiation, the different types of Insulin, and a brief note on other medications that may be given concomitantly with insulin such as metformin, DPP-IV inhibitors, SGLT-2 inhibitors, and the GLP-1 analogs (Liraglutide and Dulaglutide). [caption id="attachment_9535" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Attending CME lectures at PIMS - World Diabetes Day 2019[/caption] The most important message given by Dr. Mohammad Ali Arif to the audience was to not hesitate in initiating insulin early during the course of diabetes. After talking about the different characteristics of insulin, he stressed on the indications of insulin therapy in various high-risk groups. These include:

• emaciated patients,
• patients not achieving glycemic targets despite maximum therapy,
• hospitalized patients,
• patients with liver and renal disease,
• gestational diabetes,
• perioperative patients, and
• patients undergoing any kind of stress (infections, heart failure, myocardial infarction, trauma, etc).

The second lecture was about the use of Insulin in hospitalized patients

[caption id="attachment_9539" align="aligncenter" width="718"] Dr. Fibha Syed delivering a lecture at PIMS on the occasion of World Diabetes Day 2019[/caption] The second lecture was a very interactive lecture delivered by Dr. Fibha Syed. The lecture focused on insulin therapy in hospitalized patients. Dr. Fibha repeatedly stressed the target blood sugars for hospitalized patients (140 - 180 mg/dl), how to manage a critically hospitalized, a non-critically hospitalized, and a perioperative patient. She also emphasized not to use the subcutaneous sliding scale insulin. For all critically ill patients, she stressed insulin infusion and for non-critically ill patients, she recommended the use of a basal-bolus regimen.

Public awareness at the Centaurus mall

[caption id="attachment_9536" align="aligncenter" width="768"] Diabetes education at Centaurus mall[/caption] [caption id="attachment_9537" align="aligncenter" width="896"] diabetes education at Centaurus Mall - world diabetes day 2019[/caption] The last activity was about public awareness at the Centaurus Mall. All the consultants were present at the specific time allocated. Dietary advice, healthy lifestyle advice, how to achieve target blood glucose, what complications might develop if the blood sugars remain uncontrolled, and what side effects may arise as a result of the medications were discussed with the general population. [caption id="attachment_9540" align="aligncenter" width="768"] Dr. Liaqat at Centaurus Mall with a patient[/caption] [caption id="attachment_9546" align="aligncenter" width="800"] Diabetes education at Centaurus Mall - Dr. Fibah & Dr. Hibbah[/caption]

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In conclusion:

The World Diabetes Day 2019 was celebrated with great enthusiasm in the Pakistan Institute Of Medical Sciences Islamabad. The activity emphasized the prevention, screening, early treatment, early initiation of insulin and prevention of diabetes-related complications.